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PBA Draft: Former Falcons Nuyles, Camson hoping for the best

Former Adamson Falcons Alex Nuyles (left) and Eric Camson. (Czeasar Dancel/NPPA Images)

A pair of former Adamson Falcons are hoping to fulfill their childhood dreams and make it to the big league.

High-flying guard Alex Nuyles and versatile forward Eric Camson, both stalwarts of the Adamson team that made it to back-to-back Final Fours in the UAAP in 2010 and 2011, are two of the record 85 players who joined the 2013 PBA Rookie Draft, and while they’re long shots to be picked in the top five, they’re optimistic they’ll be selected somewhere in the first rounds of the draft set for November 3.

“Hopefully I get selected in the first round and get signed to a contract,” said Nuyles in Filipino. “That’s really my goal right now.”

The athletic off-guard, who led the Falcons in scoring in 2011, is aware that a past shoulder injury may have lowered his draft stock a little bit.

“Based on feedback I got, the issues with me are questionable shooting and the fact that I’m coming off an injury,” he said, although he was quick to add that his shoulder is now fully healed.

“If you came from an injury,” he said, “people tend to forget you.”

Nuyles is projected to go somewhere in the second round, although some scouts say he might go as early as late in the first round. So far he’s worked out with Barako Bull, Alaska, GlobalPort and San Mig Coffee.

Of the four, the Energy Cola have the most picks in the first two rounds with five - fourth, fifth, sixth, 14th and 20th.

Standing at a shade below six-foot-two, Nuyles is a renowned leaper, and he showed this off during the rookie camp when he reached 11’4” on his second vertical leap, good enough for second-best behind big men Greg Slaughter and Isaac Holstein, who both reached 11’6”.

The former King Falcon credits former Adamson coach Leo Austria with helping him hone his skills.

“He’s not just your coach, he’s like a father figure too. He taught me everything and he really pushed me.”

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Meanwhile, Camson is coming off a productive year, emerging as Adamson’s best post player in Season 75 and joining the NLEX Road Warriors in the PBA D-League, where they won one championship and finished second in another conference.

While he played the power forward spot with the Falcons, Camson knows he will probably play the small forward spot in the pros.

“I’m improving my skills to be a three (small forward),” he said. “But if the opponent has a quick big man, I can play the four spot. I’ve been extending my shooting range so that I can shoot from three-point distance.”

Officially measured at six feet, three and there-eights inches, Camson has been invited for informal workouts with GlobalPort, Rain or Shine and San Mig Coffee.

Like Nuyles, Camson is projected to be picked in the second round. But given a choice, he said he wants to play for the Elasto Painters.

“I think I can bring out my best with Rain or Shine,” he said. “We all know how Coach Yeng (Guiao) coaches.”